The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) made an announcement today about its new enhancements to Bluetooth technology, which will improve the functionality of hands-free cell phone use in automobiles and will help make Bluetooth technology a standard with most new automobiles.
The SIG introduced the Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) and enhancements to the existing Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5). The new profiles will improve phonebook and dialing handling in the car, and it will be easier and more convenient for drivers, car manufacturers and phone manufacturers to use and implement Bluetooth technology.
“Manufacturers and users alike recognize that Bluetooth technology is the perfect solution for hands-free systems; today’s announcement of enhanced Bluetooth functionality will allow richer dialing and driving scenarios, and ensure safe phone handling in the car,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.
The PBAP makes the information from a personal phone book available to the user in the hands-free car kit. The updated HFP 1.5 offers cell phone features such as enhanced call control, phone status indicators, response and hold, information about the subscriber number and improved audio quality.
“In the past, there was no universal way for Bluetooth mobile phones and car hands-free systems to share phonebook and contact information, which made implementation difficult for us as car manufacturers and created confusion for our consumers,” said Dr. Peter Steiner, Head of Infotainment at Audi. “We are very satisfied that there now is a standard way and this will be the next important step to further enhance customer satisfaction.”
"Though MP3 players presently only use adapters to implement Bluetooth technology, we are seeing an increasing amount of mobile phones with MP3 functionality on the market," said David McClure, an executive at automotive technology consultancy SBD in a statement. "This will further push the need for built-in Bluetooth functionality in cars."
The SIG predicted that factory-installed Bluetooth car kits, using the new enhancements, should hit the market in 2007.
As of today there are several car manufactures which offer Bluetooth technology for hands-free communications, including Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Saab, Toyota and Volkswagen. In addition, there are various manufactures that offer a wide variety of after-market car kits for almost any make or model of car.
Posted February 13, 2006 by BlueTomorrow.com Editorial Staff
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